Interview with Paul Pless, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, University of Illinois College of Law

This article consists of excerpts taken from a thread on Top Law Schools in which Dean Paul Pless answered questions from forum members about the University of Illinois College of Law. Top Law Schools thanks Dean Pless for taking the time to routinely visit the forum in order to assist with the questions and concerns of applicants.

His TLS blog can be found here.

The page is divided into the following sections:

Admissions
Scholarships
Residency and Home Ownership
Programs and Life at the Law School
Employment
Transferring
Just for Fun

Admissions

General Questions

TLS: How exactly does the whole admissions process work behind the scenes?

Good question, though every school does it differently. I can tell you how we do it. All files get reviewed by me or our Assistant Director of Admissions. The split is roughly 80/20. I review all of the Assistant Director’s decisions and read all of the admits’ files before they are finalized. How long I take on each file really depends on the file, and honestly I have never timed myself. I can usually get through 30 a day while still doing a lot of other things. If I am just reading files, maybe 120 in a day. I often take files home with me to read as well. We have an Admissions Committee with three professors. I will take files to them and get their thoughts. Their input helps me make better decisions on the other files they do not see because I get their opinions on things they feel are important, just how serious a misconduct really is, thoughts on a particular major or school, etc. I read the files in the order in which they are completed, not the order that people applied. Currently our system is we move a batch of files into review on Thursday and I need to have them all read by the next Wednesday. Denies will usually be posted on Wednesday and Admits/Holds will go out on Thursday. Since I sign all of the letters this helps a little with my hand cramping up. I hope that solves some of the mystery.

TLS: How do you handle application files? Does Illinois have a software program that sorts applicants so that they are searchable by certain factors (e.g. UGPA, LSAT, URM, liked their PS), or do you just have an enormous filing cabinet?

We have a database that contains all of the information in an applicant's file and we use this system to track the class as decisions are made. For initial reviews files are sorted only by the date on which they are completed. Once we move to the wait list stage, I have a spreadsheet that contains all of the relevant information for all of the applicants on the wait list. This is the second spreadsheet I open every morning when I start my computer, and the first is the one that has the information about all deposited students. Files aren't presorted other than by their status, so all of the wait list files are in one place. When I decide to make offers, I will use the spreadsheet I mentioned before and select a group of files to review again. I give the list to my staff and they pull the files for me and I select people as I read the files. (This is usually the third or fourth time I have read that particular file.) Next year, we plan on moving to a paperless system.

TLS: If someone reapplies to your school after being rejected the previous year, do you look at their application as a new applicant, or do you go back and look at their old application as well? Is there any advantage/disadvantage that comes from reapplying, in your mind? What if they were accepted and chose not to attend?

I don't go back and look, although I am aware of the prior decision. It doesn't have any impact on the new decision. I usually don't hold it against someone if they were admitted once and didn't attend, but twice and I will start to ask questions.

When to Apply

TLS: What do you consider to be the latest date to have an application in by to be considered "early"?

I think that you can apply by Thanksgiving and it won't have any real negative impact, and to be really safe, by the end of October. For schools that have rolling admission, like Illinois, applying early can be advantageous. I think this is even more the case for applicants that have numbers below the median. There are only so many slots in the class and once they are filled, applicants that I like and otherwise would have been admitted will often find their way to the wait list. At Illinois, we receive a third of our total applications by Thanksgiving, and 66% by January 1. Applying after that time makes it more difficult, even for some of the "above and beyond" candidates. We only have so much room in the class.

LSAT Questions

TLS: What is your policy on multiple LSAT scores? What looks worse: 1) a cancellation 2) or 2 scores?

Neither is bad. I only start to get concerned when I see multiple cancellations or when you start to get to 4 scores, I start to wonder why. There really isn't any reason to take it that many times so if something unusual has happened, you should put in an addendum. At Illinois, and at just about every other law school, we will take the high score.

TLS: Can a school see if an applicant has registered to retake the LSAT, or do they have to wait until scores are released?

Schools can see it, but each school has its own policy about when to review such a file. We will typically hold review if the person has a December test registration, but not for a February. This is our default position. If an applicant requests a review or a hold, we will abide by their wishes.

TLS: Do you find that you truly believe the LSAT is a solid indicator of success in law school?

The LSAT has been proven time and again to be the most accurate tool in predicting first year performance. It isn't always right and it should never be used alone, but out of all the things we have to predict performance, the LSAT is more accurate than any other single measure. However, I have seen people with below 25th percentile (for Illinois) LSATs finish in the top ten percent of the class almost every year. Those people have other indicators in their file that predict high law school performance.

TLS: For people who have a less than desirable test scores, and have shown that standardized tests to not accurately reflect their academic potential, what should they do?

Past strong academic performance can go a long way in overcoming a lower LSAT score. Focus on your strengths. I have seen some people talk about their low ACT/SAT score and their strong undergraduate performance. That is fine, but this should be an addendum, not what your personal statement is about.

TLS: What effect, if any, does the LSAT writing sample have on your decisions? Is there a specific reason you might use the writing sample as a factor in admissions?

The LSAT writing sample has almost zero impact on my decision. The reason it is not absolutely zero is that occasionally someone will goof off on the writing sample, draw a picture, make some odd statement, etc. Typically I will deny someone who does that. I also look at it more when the LSAT is administered outside of the US. However, I don't think it is possible to come up with a good metric to score writing ability. I want a writing sample, but I want to see your best work, not what you come up with in timed conditions after 3 hours of testing. That is what we use the personal statement for. Some people worry that personal statements aren't a true reflection of a student’s ability, because they could have been edited by someone else. I certainly understand that concern, and that is one reason the LSAT writing sample is still around.

TLS: I am curious about how most admissions committees analyze LSAT scores. While reviewing an application, will a committee ever break down a candidate's performance by section?

We only get the score. I haven't ever seen a correlation study comparing performance in law school to performance on just certain questions on the LSAT.

GPA and Transcript Questions

TLS: Are upward trends in GPA considered?

We certainly look at an upward trend, but there isn't a formula. I probably prefer someone who GPA goes 3.0,3.2,3.7,4.0 vs. someone who was 3.4 all the way through, but GPA's aren't created equal and I look at the school and the program. In general, I like to see two years where you did really, really well.

TLS: How do you view students who have multi-year gaps in their undergraduate education?

I don't think of it as a problem at all. You will want to be very clear about what you did during the gap years.

TLS: How do you feel about those who graduate from college in 4.5 years (an extra semester) and opposed to the standard 4 years?

Doesn't bother me at all. Happens a lot.

TLS: How do you view a relatively low undergraduate GPA for applicants who have been out of undergrad for quite some time and have extensive work experience?

The farther removed you are from your undergraduate degree, the less important it becomes. I will be very interested in what you have accomplished during your time out of school.

TLS: What do you look for in sub-3.0 candidates to indicate their potential for success in law school, besides work experience and a high LSAT?

Grade trends, writing ability, leadership.

TLS: How much consideration do you really give to addendums that applicants submit to apologize for their poor GPA? If such an explanation did properly account for a poor GPA, how much of a change would warrant writing this addendum?

It really depends on the reason. If something happened that caused the poor GPA that isn't already discussed in your application, then yes, I consider addendums. Be clear, concise, and don't make excuses. If it is more the first two years sucked, let your more recent work stand on its own and highlight any work experience you have had.

TLS: How do withdrawals (Ws) generally affect the application?

More than two Ws and I would want an explanation.

TLS: How does Illinois factor in non-American grades from study abroad programs?

Foreign grades from study abroad aren't given much weight, good or bad.

Other “Numbers” Questions

TLS: In general how number driven is the admission process?

Very, and not at all. 25% of the ranking of the school is based on admissions numbers. The admission profile is something that the school has the most direct control over, so the medians are important. So, why do we care about the LSAT? Because it is better at predicting how well a student will do in the first year of law school than any other single metric. The issue of course is that it isn't perfect and it is more useful when used in combination with a lot of other factors. A high LSAT alone doesn't mean that someone will do well in school. Being successful in law school is almost all about how hard you will work. That is a tougher thing to predict, and I don't have a formula. People with higher GPAs and higher LSATs tend to do better in school, so they have an advantage in the application process. Last year at Illinois, our median LSAT was 166, and 47% of the class had an LSAT below that. We denied many, many people with LSATs above 166. Why? Bad grades, bad record, bad writing, or they were just plain boring. A law school class is a back and forth between the Professor and the class. It is important that the students in the class are smart, energetic, and have different opinions about things. In a nutshell, that is what I am trying to do with whom I admit. I track how well our students do very closely and I am always looking for correlations between applicant characteristics and performance in law school. Lately, I have found that students with high GPAs from good programs are outperforming what their LSAT predicts. This has led to some changes in our admitted profile.

TLS: What are the top two or three reasons Illinois outright rejects an applicant with borderline numbers?

Off the top of my head, serious discipline or bad writing.

TLS: Similarly, what separates a person with borderline/median numbers from being an "admit" to "waitlist/hold/defer?"

Often merely when the file went complete. An early borderline that becomes an admit turns into a wait list if read in March.

TLS: What is the most effective way (besides retaking the LSAT) for an undergraduate senior to overcome a low (below 25th percentile) GPA, presuming they're within a school's LSAT 25th-75th percentile range? Similarly, what is the most effective method of overcoming a sub 25th percentile LSAT score, presuming an "in range" GPA?

If one of the scores is below the 25^th percentile, the other really needs to be at median to be competitive. Certain things can overcome this such as great experience, one in a thousand personal statement (I can't say what that is, it is personal after all), or something that really makes the file standout (leadership, varsity athlete, working full-time during school).

TLS: How do you view splitters (a very low GPA but a very high LSAT)?

A very low GPA coming directly out of undergrad can be a tough thing to overcome. You have to give me some reason to believe that law school will be different. If there was an upward trend in grades, it would help.

TLS: What GPA/LSAT scores, with respect to the school's 25-75% numbers, are basically "auto-admits" / "rejects"? And students hovering just above your median with great recommendations (LoR) and a great personal statement (PS), how likely are they to be admitted late in the admissions cycle?

At Illinois there really is no such thing as "auto" decision. Every file gets a full review in the order in which they are complete. It is a competitive process though, so applicants with higher numbers, which correlate to stronger performance in school, are more likely to be admitted than someone with lower numbers. If a person has numbers above the median, a great PS, and great LoR, they are very likely to be admitted.

TLS: What are the best numbers (LSAT and GPA) of any one student you know of that has gone to your school?

Highest LSAT was a 178. Best numerical candidate was 177/4.13.

TLS: What was the lowest LSAT/GPA you have admitted simply because you liked something in the applicants file, and what was it you liked?

I have admitted someone with a 145 LSAT before. They had a very impressive academic record and an advanced degree from a top University. I have admitted someone with a 2.2 before. They were 10 years out of school with extensive work as a journalist and had a very good LSAT score. That person ended up being one of the editors of one of our journals.

TLS: Does UIUC practice Yield Protection?

No, we don't. Illinois did before I started running the admissions office. Honestly, it doesn't make sense to me. If you spend the time to apply, then you deserve a fair review and answer. If I admit you, then it is my job to give you all the information you need to make the right choice for you. If I do and you decide that another school better fits your needs, no worries. Ever since we had this change, 10% to 15% of our class has an LSAT over 170.

Soft Factor Questions

TLS: What soft factors, meaning components of the applications besides GPA/LSAT, does your law school like the most?

I think most people consider resume and PS to be soft factors. At least I do. Military experience is certainly a positive factor. Teach for America alums are great and I have had good experience admitting athletes. I think balancing some time-consuming extracurricular activity with strong academic performance is always a plus in a file. Athletics is one, student leadership position would be another. I love artists too. We have a 1L who performed on Broadway and she is amazing. She really did well her first semester here as well. I always have performance majors in every class and one of my good friends from law school did costume design before she came to Illinois. Our range of admits last year was 177 to 148 on the LSAT, so soft factors can play a role. Good writing is also important, actually a requirement. The personal statement is always important.

TLS: Can you give a contemporary example, something that really made someone stand out?

Former Air Force officer, she played rugby and before coming to law school took 6 months to travel around the world.

TLS: What, in your opinion, makes for a great PS? Is it the quality of the writing, or what is being written about?

I am more likely to admit someone who writes very well but has kind of a boring story versus someone who is really interesting but can't write at all. Always emphasize your strengths and write about what you know.

TLS: How are advanced degrees viewed at Illinois?

Typically at least 20% of our students have advanced degrees. I love to see them in applications. The only thing is that the graduate GPA is fairly meaningless since almost all graduate programs have very high curves. I look more at the quality of the school and the program when using it as a factor.

TLS: What percentage have Ph.D.s? How is a doctoral degree viewed as compared to a masters?

Maybe 5%, and yes, it is given considerably more weight. I think a Ph.D. is always an impressive thing to see in an application. It can make up for a lackluster undergraduate GPA or a poor LSAT.

TLS: Does the nature of work experience acquired after graduation matter significantly?

We like to see people with work experience in fields other than law. We will teach you the law you need to know. Being able to relate what you learn to the experiences you have is a valuable addition to the classroom.

TLS: Are there any admissions advantages given to legacies?

We ask the legacy question on our application and it is taken into consideration. We place more emphasis on a College of Law connection than any other UIUC connection.

Diversity and Non-Traditional Students

TLS: I am wondering how you evaluate diversity in terms of socioeconomic status, race, and other disadvantages in the application process? Do these factors affect how you view LSAT scores or undergraduate GPA (UGPA)?

All of the things you mentioned are factors in our process. The first question that I always ask is whether the applicant can do the work at Illinois and be a successful law student. To decide that, I look primarily at the LSAT and UGPA, but I will also look at work experience and writing ability. Once an applicant passes that test, all of the other factors can come into play.

TLS: Does Illinois accept diversity statements if one didn't initially send one along with the expected personal statement? Would you recommend doing that?

If you think you have something else to add to your file that is relevant to our decision, sure. Make sure it is concise.

TLS: Beyond the natural URM profile, what other elements does Illinois look for when considering diversity in their upcoming class?

Age, School, Major, Work Experience, Geographic. Those would be the biggest ones.

TLS: Do you strive to have a student body (and often consequently an alumni network) that hails from all over the country, or is this pretty much of a non-factor in your decision process? Would you be inclined to give any preference at all to an applicant that comes from a state that isn't highly represented in your student body?

I would love to have a class that had all 50 states represented, but that is just a personal thing. I think geographic diversity is important, as people's opinions and outlook on issues are shaped by where they are from, and those insights can make a difference in the classroom. If I have an applicant from a part of the country that we don't normally have students from, they can get a bump.

TLS: How well are non-traditional students represented at UIUC, and how do you think they tend to fare within the program?

We have a number of "nontrad" students at the College. They tend to outperform the typical predictors.

TLS: Are there many students at Illinois with young families? Are they generally pretty involved and do fairly well, or would you say they are at a disadvantage compared to the single students?

We have a lot of people with young families. Honestly, I think it helps people stay focused. They tend to hang out with each other and they also tend to perform at a high level.

TLS: What do law schools think of younger applicants (19-21 age range)?

An applicant under 21 really needs something in the file to show maturity such as leadership activities, the way they write, or their reason for wanting to go to law school. The young applicants tend to have very good numbers.

Letters of Recommendation

TLS: How much do letters of recommendation (LoR) matter in the admissions process?

LoR are important, but I think they are clearly 5th after LSAT/GPA, PS, and Resume. You have to remember I am trying to distinguish between applicants. Most letters are positive and don't help separate applicants, but some really stand out. You can read some and really tell that the author knows the applicant very well and really hits on the points we care about like intelligence, dedication, integrity, and leadership. Very rarely we get a letter that isn't a recommendation at all. Those hurt an applicant not because someone said something bad about you, but because the applicant showed such poor judgment in asking that person to write a letter.

TLS: How do you evaluate a targeted LoR from someone affiliated with the school, such as an alumni, in comparison with a general LoR?

If the alumni is someone who has worked with you or taught you, yes, it will carry slightly more weight.

TLS: I was just wondering what your general feelings are on LoR coming from politically influential individuals that applicants may know well or have worked closely with. I know that you are really just looking for the letter to be a good one, but does it add more to the letter if they are from prominent people? Also, for an applicant on the waitlist, how would your office react to being contacted via telephone by people that want to recommend certain applicants?

Generally that won't help any more than a letter from a supervisor or professor that knows you well. Most admissions offices would rather not have direct phone calls on behalf of an applicant.

Impact of Undergraduate Major

TLS: How much weight does an applicant's undergraduate major have?

It carries a lot of with me, but it has more of an impact with lower GPAs. What I mean is that if someone has a 3.2 in Electrical Engineering from a good school, I still consider that a good GPA. A 3.9 is almost always good. The overall quality of the University it is from would have a big impact as well.

TLS: What is your take on engineering majors? Do you consider it a plus for an applicant to have an engineering degree? Also, do you apply any sort of GPA boost to these engineering applicants?

I really like engineering majors. Illinois has one of the very best engineering programs in the world, so it is a natural fit for us. Most engineering programs have a different curve than other programs, so we take that into account when reviewing a file.

TLS: Are there certain majors that you hate to see on an application?

Certain majors and programs are certainly stronger than others. Criminology and pre-law are not some of the stronger majors.

TLS: Do things like double majors or Honors Colleges at public universities provide any bump to applicants?

Double majors aren't given a lot of weight. Honor Colleges or special tracks are given weight here at Illinois. These programs typically require an extra component during undergrad that typically relates well to law school such as smaller classes with more interaction, more writing, etc.

Impact of Undergraduate Institution

TLS: Do you factor in the relative strength of the undergraduate institution when looking at an applicant?

School absolutely matters. The quality of the school and the major within the school are given a lot of consideration. We also look at the school’s curve. This is why a raw GPA number really means very little. It has to be taken in context.

Disclosing Unpleasantries

TLS: What are some examples of things that would hurt an applicant’s chances of admission?

Discipline issues that raise concerns are violent acts, serious drug or alcohol incidents, or academic dishonesty. Also, patterns of behavior cause concerns such as a series of alcohol incidents. A simple underage drinking ticket or a university sanction for alcohol in a dorm aren't serious. They do need to be reported, however.

iLEAP Explained

TLS: What is iLEAP? What are the benefits of applying through iLeap as opposed to applying regularly? About how many people applied? And how many people will be accepted into the program?

iLEAP is designed to keep the best Illinois students here for their legal education, and is only for UIUC undergrads. We don't have a specific major in mind, but very high performance along with significant leadership experience is what the typical admitted student would look like. The main benefit is that you know very early on and you can focus on your undergraduate studies without worrying about law school applications. We also treat the iLEAP students very well in terms of scholarships and opportunities. We had 71 applications for the iLEAP, and we interviewed 15. Students apply during their junior year. We want to allow these people to apply early, with enough time so if they are denied admission or choose not to accept our offer, they can apply in the normal fashion (both to Illinois and other schools). This means we have to give them a decision before the deadline to sign up for the June LSAT before their senior year. If the student has taken the LSAT already, we will consider it. We don't prohibit them from taking the LSAT, we just don't require it. We simply don't want to force people to take it early. We only offer this to Illinois (Champaign) students because we know what their grades mean more than any other school. We have a lot of data both on the applicants from Illinois and on those that matriculate. The iLEAP application is also more extensive than our normal application. All of these factors, in addition to the interview, will allow us to successfully select excellent law students from the iLEAP pool. We have an interview for iLEAP because all of these students are all on our campus and can all easily be interviewed. An interview can be useful in determining an applicant's maturity and motivation. It will also allow me to push people a little bit and see how well they think on their feet, an important trait for an attorney.

International Applicants

TLS: Does your school limits the amount of international students UIUC admits?

We don't limit international students, and I wish we had more. This year, we had a little over 200 international applicants and they were admitted at the same rate as all candidates, about 25%. The main issue is funding, since non-US citizens aren't eligible for federal funding. We will work with students on that issue, and we do have some loans that are available, but not at the same level as we do for US citizens or Permanent Residents.

Waitlists and Letters of Continuing Interest

TLS: What are your views on "holds" and waitlists at Illinois? Do these folks traditionally have decent odds of being accepted? Are there different tiers or priority levels on the waitlist? Do you think additional info and letters of continuing interest (LOCI) are all that helpful?

I try really hard to limit the number of holds we have. When holds are reviewed the second time, they will be admitted, denied, or asked if they would like a place on the waitlist. A brief LOCI isn't a bad thing at all, unless the school specifically asks you not to. Odds are tough to say, it really is different every year. We don't have different levels of WL, and it is not ranked. I will review the class every few weeks and see what we are missing and then go to the Waitlist to fill in weak spots.

TLS: How many students were accepted off the waitlist last year, and at what point did you begin re-reviewing their applications?

About 15% of the class came in from the WL last year. Each year is really different though. In the past, it has ranged from 5% to 15%. The majority of WL activity will happen after the first deposit deadline. This is usually the case for most schools.

TLS: Can an offer off a WL be binding?

No. A school may tell you that if you accept it is binding, but they would have to tell you upfront.

TLS: Does it matter if a LOCI is sent via email or snail mail, or is either way as preferable as the other?

Doesn't matter.

TLS: What would you usually like to see on LOCIs?

Basically that you are still interested in attending Illinois. Sometimes people use it as a chance to update their file with something that has happened since they applied such as an award, new grades, or a promotion. That is fine too, although if you have new grades you should always send an updated transcript to LSAC.

TLS: Is it common for students on the waitlist to visit? What do you recommend they do on our visit? Does it help them get off the waitlist in any way?

It has happened before. It doesn't really help someone get off the waitlist. If you are seriously interested in Illinois, visiting could help you make up your mind if you do get pulled off the list. Typically people aren't given a lot of time to make a decision when admitted from the waitlist. Some people have gotten in because I liked them after their visit. Just as many people have not gotten off the waitlist because of their visit.

TLS: Do you think this is true of most schools--that the numbers they need are pretty firm and waitlists are more based on softs? Or do schools sometimes pull from the waitlist more high LSAT/lower GPA splitters or visa versa depending on their current acceptances?

Typically it is a split (one way or the other) with good softs that come off the waitlist, but it really depends. Some years, I need some more LSATs above median to make myself feel comfortable. Some years, it is GPA. Most years, it is other factors, and that is when it is more fun. Other factors can be where you are from, what school you went to, what your major was, work experience, residency, etc. Sometimes I have people on the waitlist that I really like (experience, personal statement, something) and really want to have in my class, but I can't let that one person impact the overall numbers. (When you deal with medians, sometimes it comes down to one person.) So if after the deposits are in and I have a better idea where I am with the class, I know that I can admit that one person who is really special and who will make a difference in my class. Best case is when these are interesting people who just didn't quite have the numbers.

TLS: Do schools share wait list info?

No, we don't share wait list info.

Denials

TLS: Is it appropriate for a student who was rejected to email you requesting an explanation on the decision? How would you respond and how specific would you get? If there was a specific part of their essays or recommendations that really turned you off, would you let them know that?

Denied applicants may certainly email me, but I may not be able to provide an answer that you like. Some times there is nothing wrong with a file, it is just that the other applications are just better. If there was something glaring in the file and someone asks, I will tell them that.

Deposits

TLS: Is it against the rules to submit deposits to two different schools? What would you do if you see an admit doing this?

It isn't against any rule that LSAC has. Some schools have language on their deposit form that states that you are only submitting a deposit to them and withdrawing all of your other applications. If a school has that language and you don't abide by it, the school certainly has the right to revoke their offer. Illinois doesn't have that language. With the new system, if I see someone has paid two deposits and it is June 15, I will just give them a call and ask what they plan on doing. I have people on the WL that want that seat, but if a person has paid their deposits the seat is theirs until they withdraw.

Deferring

TLS: What is your policy regarding deferrals? If someone is admitted and circumstances are forcing them to defer their admission for a year, does Illinois tend to grant such a thing or are they out of luck?

Deferrals are usually by the applicant’s request. I tend to grant deferrals if there is a good reason. A good reason is something that is out of your control or something that you really only could do before law school such as Teach for America or working on a campaign, and will make you a better or more interesting law student. As soon as you know for sure that you want to defer, ask. We do require a deposit for most cases. Typically we don't let that happen off of the waitlist, but it depends on the circumstances.

TLS: Do students who apply for deferral retain their scholarships?

Typically a deferral will also include the scholarship offer.

Other Admissions Questions

TLS: In your opinion (and obviously you know more about your office than that of other schools), to what extent and for what purpose do admissions folks use these boards?

Admissions people read these boards. Think about it. The people writing on these things are the people we (AdPro's) are trying to figure out. The stuff written here can provide us with valuable information about what you think of our school and what other schools are doing. That being said, we all have jobs to do that are very time consuming at the same point of the year that the boards are the most active. We don't have time to look for and match up people on the boards with actual applicants.

TLS: Can a school see what other schools the applicant has applied to? How about the applicant's admission decisions from the other schools?

No. In June, schools that participate in the commitment overlap process can see if people who have paid a deposit at their school also have a deposit at another participating school. Illinois participates in this process, but not every school does. More information is on the LSAC website. This program just started last year.

TLS: Do law schools contact each other during the application cycle? If so, in what context?

Sure. We talk to each other all the time. Not about applicants though, at least not specific applicants.

TLS: What percentage of your total applicants apply via UIUC's Early Decision option? Do they receive any kind of bump in the regular admissions cycle since you know that Illinois is their top choice school?

Less than 5% of our total pool is from the ED program. They typically take 5-7% of the spots in the class. They don't receive any official kind of bump but I have, on occasion, gone to them first when taking people off of the waitlist.

TLS: Why are interviews not a major factor for law school admissions?

It is getting more common. We do interviews for the iLEAP program and for transfer students. We don't for our 1L JD admissions because I don't have the ability to interview 3,500 people, and I don't want to disadvantage people that couldn't make it to Champaign.

TLS: What do you think students should wear to a meeting with the Dean of Admissions for a school...admitted vs. WL/hold?

Business casual. I don't wear a suit, you shouldn't. If it is a formal interview at a school (not Illinois since we don't do that), you should suit up. I don't think there needs to be a difference if you are admitted or on the WL. I am not going to admit someone just because they dressed nicely.

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Scholarships

TLS: How are scholarship offers determined? Are there any additional scholarships available to 2L or 3L students?

Our merit-based scholarships are based primarily on LSAT/GPA, but other factors certainly come into play. Our scholarships are guaranteed for all three years, and the average award is $10,000. Frankly, the idea of merit-based scholarships is to entice students to attend. Therefore, I look for factors in your application that may cause you to be more desirable to other schools. Unique work experience, personal story, or just having some characteristic that is rare in the applicant pool can result in a larger scholarship offer. Of course, these characteristics make you more attractive to Illinois, so we are happy to "pay" for these people. We have awards that are available to 2Ls and 3Ls, but many of these are one-time awards. I try to make the best offer up front, be very clear on what tuition will be for the three years you are here at Illinois, and guarantee our scholarships for all 3 years. Then, you can make an educated decision. I have never been a fan of conditional scholarships. A school may offer 75% of their 1L class a scholarship that is conditional on finishing the first year in the top third of the class. Obviously, a lot of those people are going to be paying a lot more for school in a year. It works because every 0L thinks they will finish in the top third, but only a third of them are right. I would rather offer a slightly lower award that is guaranteed for three years.

TLS: Are scholarships negotiable? Do you find students trying to negotiate later in the cycle? What is the rate of success?

People try to negotiate all of the time. The ones that have been successful have support for their reason, beyond just wanting more. I am certainly open to people discussing their other offers with me, and I will look at adjusting our offer. I take into consideration the total cost of attendance, not the scholarship amount. I will also look at the quality of the schools that the other offers come from. Whether or not I can increase my initial offer depends a lot on where my budget is at that moment. The short answer is that it never hurts to ask, but do so in a professional manner with facts to support your request. I have never taken money away from someone for asking, although I have come close.

TLS: Will you offer need-based scholarships after receiving the FASFA information or will you just provide loans?

Our scholarships for 1Ls are all merit-based. There are some need-based scholarships available to 2nd and 3rd year students.

TLS: Does Illinois require a FAFSA to be submitted for students receiving merit aid, and do you know if it's common for law schools to require this?

We don't look at the FAFSA when determining merit aid. Private schools are much more likely to want the FAFSA information along with other financial information (Need Access, etc.) before giving you their financial offer.

TLS: If a student doesn't receive any merit-based assistance during admittance, are there any chances in later academic years to pick a scholarship up if the student places well enough?

To answer your direct question, yes, it is possible to get additional scholarships after the first year. I am somewhat limited in the fact that I don't take away scholarships like some schools do. That being said, if a student does exceedingly well in the first year and doesn't currently have a scholarship, I will certainly come up with something. You shouldn't let the cost of the school stop you from applying, though. If it is a school in which you are interested, it is always best to apply and see what the offer is. Talk to the school about your choices and see what you can come up with. In the end, if it is still too expensive, you really aren't out anything other than the application fee, and in the grand scheme of things, that isn't much.

TLS: What happens to scholarship money when someone withdraws an acceptance late in the game? Does it go to the person you admit off the wait list? Does it go to the next best person out of the entire pool of admitted (committed) candidates?

It depends if I am over budget or not. If I am not over my budget, it goes back into the pool of money that I can draw from if a scholarship is warranted. Sometimes it will go to a new admit, and sometimes it will go to someone that has already deposited.

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Residency and Home Ownership

TLS: Is it possible to achieve residency after 1L for in-state tuition for the next two years?

Residency is hard to change. You must be in Illinois for non-educational purposes, which is tough to prove once you are here for school. Students have been granted residency in the past by purchasing property in Illinois or marrying an Illinois resident who is paying taxes. We try to make up the difference through scholarships.

TLS: What do you think about out-of-state students buying a home in order to obtain residency/in-state tuition rates? Are the hassles of home ownership worth the $7k/year savings?

I think it is usually well worth the effort and hassle of owning a home. If done correctly, you can come out way ahead and have a nicer place to live for the three years you are in school. There are a ton of options to buy and rent homes, all within Champaign, Urbana or Savoy, 10 minutes from the school.

TLS: The Illinois application asks if the applicant has a parent living permanently in Illinois. Does this in any way affect in-state residency status?

If your parent lives in Illinois, you are considered a resident, even if you are independent of your parent, which is just the way the law is written.

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Programs and Life at the Law School

Programs and Organizations

TLS: What do you feel is the strongest program within the law school?

I think the strength of Illinois is our depth. We are strong in just about every area of law such as IP, Commercial/Corporate, Tax, International, Family, Criminal, Environmental, Health Policy, Labor/Employment....

TLS: Could you speak a little bit about your clinical programs? How would a student ensure he/she could participate in at least one clinic throughout their three years?

Our clinics are offered through our bid system. Most students do them in their third year. If you are a third year student and make it your top bid class when you register, you will get in the clinic you want. 30-40% of our students participate in clinics. The most popular clinics would probably be International Human Rights and the Civil Litigation clinics.

TLS: How are positions on the Law Review and other journals determined, by grades or by writing samples?

The journal spots are a hybrid. The top 5 people in each section have an easier path. They must compete in the writing competition, but they only need to finish in the top 75%. All other spots for Law Review, Elder Law and the JLTP (Law, Technology and Policy) are from the top performers in the writing competition. A little more than half of our students are on a journal.

TLS: I don't know if there's a separate UG and Graduate/Law newspaper, but have any of the law students ever written a column for it?

There is only one student newspaper, the Daily Illini. There seems to always be at least one law student who is writing for it, usually as a columnist.

TLS: What kind of opportunities do IP students have to network/intern/etc in that specialization?

Our IP students are in high demand. They often find positions in law firms for their first summer. Go to any of the top IP firms (especially those in Chicago) and look at what schools the attorneys went to. You will see a lot of Illinois. Some of the Professors that teach IP here have joint appointments and that helps them keep their hand in the latest technology. Our IP Journal is co-sponsored by the College of Engineering as well as the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. We also had a pilot IP clinic last year that worked with the University and some of the small technology start-ups that the University supports, and that will be turning into a full clinic in the coming year.

TLS: I see UIUC has an LLM, but it looks like it's only for foreign lawyers and students. What are the chances that Illinois will have a tax or other LLM programs for US students in the next few years?

Very little chance of that happening. The LLM market (in tax especially) is saturated.

TLS: Are there any plans to add a tax-related program to UIUC in the near future?

We have a joint degree program in Finance. Illinois has one of the best Accounting programs in the nation, and we are always looking for ways to leverage our connections to the best programs within the University.

Joint Degrees

TLS: What is the process of obtaining a joint degree?

Most students want to do the first year of law school first. Most will apply to the other program during their first year. It is a fairly simple process, but you will want to look at the other program’s admissions criteria. If you need a GRE or GMAT, you might want to get that out of the way before you begin law school.

TLS: How often do you have students pursue a joint-degree with your Master in Urban Planning (UP) program? Does it affect their ability to successfully land positions during OCI?

I don't think our joint degree students have had any issues. The only thing that pops up is if you try to do both degrees in 3 1/2 years. That makes it tougher since firms hire on a very strict cycle. In addition, you will need to have a clear answer if you are in UP but are interviewing to be a tax attorney.

TLS: For the JD/MHRIR degree offered with the School of Labor and Employment Relations, is the cost of a Master's degree added to the cost of the JD, or is there some sort of joint rate?

You would pay law school tuition for 5 semesters and LER tuition for 3 semesters.

General Questions about Law School Life

TLS: Do you have any advice for admitted students to prepare for 1L?

Get your life squared away and everything in order. Limit the number of distractions you will have during the first year. Personally, I recommend you enjoy the last summer vacation you are ever going to have. If you like to read, read. If you like to surf, surf. Whatever it is, do it. This is one of your last chances to do something that is just for you. Don't buy any law books. Don't take any pre-law courses. And once you have made up your mind where to attend, get excited about your choice, and be ready to hit the ground running on day one.

TLS: Do you have any links to pictures of UIUC's law facilities?

I created a page on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35147438@N08/

TLS: What are the hours and days for a full time day 1L student? Is it possible to commute to Chicago on the weekends or throughout the week?

We only have a full time program. The hours are typically 9-4 M-F. Obviously, there are breaks in there and you don't always have class at 9 and not all days run until 4. In the second and third year, you make your own schedule, and we have a number of students who have class 3 or 4 days a week. I think you miss a lot by commuting to Chicago in your first year, but it has been done before.

TLS: How does the school's grade distribution break down? Is it curved?

Our 1L courses are curved at 3.2. After that, it tends to float up a bit.

TLS: Does the school allow professors to award A+ grades, and if so, are A+ grades given their full 4.33 value?

Yes, but at Illinois (undergrad too) an A+ is only worth 4.0.

TLS: How do students typically spend their 1L summer?

Working. Some at firms, but more with non-profits or government agencies. You have your whole life to work in a firm, it is good to experience something else. Who knows, you might like it.

TLS: Can you describe the general feeling of the school?

The College of Law is a friendly place. Our students work very hard, but are a social bunch. Even though half of our students come from outside of Illinois, there is still a Midwestern "niceness" to the place. People say hi to each other and help each other out.

TLS: Are Mac laptops compatible with the programs that students are required to use at UIUC?

Macs are compatible with our networks, but there are some issues with the secured exam software. They have been working on resolving that, but as of now you still have to be able to boot Windows to use the software.

TLS: Although computers are a requirement for attendance, are students still given the option to hand-write their law exams? If so, are separate testing rooms provided for those that choose this option?

You don't have to bring a computer with you to class, but it is a requirement so we can include it in the financial aid budget if a student needs one. You may hand-write your exam and a separate room is provided.

TLS: Does the law school allow students to take undergrad classes during 2L and 3L? And if so, do a lot of people do that?

You can take undergrad classes, not for credit of course, but at no additional charge. A fair number of our students do this.

TLS: Does UIUC offer family days for faculty, staff, and students?

We just had a family weekend. We had a mock class, panels with administrators and student organizations, and a dinner. It was our first time, but we had about 150 people attend. It was a lot of fun.

TLS: Do any of your students work part-time in school? Are there restrictions to how much they can work in a week? If there are some, how do they fare in school when trying to balance work with law school in general?

Absolutely, although we strongly discourage it during the first year. At any ABA accredited school, you are limited to 20 hours per week as a full-time student. Most students do very well balancing the two. It does take away some time you could devote to Moot Court or a journal, but it is a balance that students need to find for themselves.

TLS: What's the parking situation for law students? Does everyone who wants a permit get one? Do they use the lot directly across the street from the law school, or do they have to park somewhere else and take a bus or walk to school?

Most students park in E-14, which is across from Assembly Hall. There is a shuttle that runs every five minutes or it is about a 10-minute walk to the College. It costs $110 a year and they never run out of spaces.

TLS: When does the school suggest moving to the area?

Most apartment leases won't start until August. I would suggest getting here at least the weekend before Orientation. Orientation starts August 19th, classes on August 24th. Orientation is mandatory.

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Employment

General Employment Questions

TLS: What are some general employment statistics for students from Illinois?

For the Class of 2007:

97.3% Employed, 73% private, 27% public (11% clerkships)

The remaining 2.7% are people that failed the bar and were waiting for the results from the February test.

Of those in private practice: 50% at large firms (defined as median salary of 160K) 30% at mid-size firms (defined as median salary of 125K) 20% at small firms (defined as salary below 100K)

Based on location: 36% went out of state 12% East Coast (including DC) 8% Midwest 8% West Coast 5% South 3% International

TLS: How many students typically find jobs through OCI?

40-45%. OCI is almost exclusively large firms and not all of our students want to do that.

TLS: I was wondering what the number of on-campus recruiters was for the previous year?

112. We are also members of 20 job fairs around the country.

TLS: Is it usually harder to find employment as an international JD holder (excluding federal and government positions)?

Our international students fare very well on the job market. Law firms that are interested in foreign-born attorneys (and there are a lot) are very comfortable in sponsoring visas.

TLS: How successful are UIUC students in obtaining judicial clerkships? Do you have any advice to future 1Ls who are interested in pursuing them?

Our students have been very successful in obtaining clerkships. Most years, it is 10%-15% of the graduating class. Typically these are students who have done well in school and are on one of our journals, but I think that is the case at just about any school. We also have a lot of opportunities for students to extern with a judge during their first summer, and this helps in getting a clerkship post-graduation.

TLS: How much debt does the average UIUC law graduate have on exit? How much is the average monthly payment on debt of that nature? And how long does it take to pay it off?

On average, our students graduate with $85,000 in law school debt. On a ten-year repayment that is about $1,000 a month. You can extend the payments out longer. There are good calculators here: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/loanpayments.phtml. Also, if you are interested in government or public interest jobs, there is the new College Cost Reduction Act. More information can be found here:

http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/resour ... orgiveness.

TLS: Do you have salary information available for the graduating class of 2008?

On the average salary, I think those numbers are meaningless really. If you go to Biglaw you are going to make between 140K and 160K. If you go to a secondary market or a midsize firm, 90K-120K should be expected. If you go to a Federal Clerkship, 55K, but you probably have a 160K job lined up after the clerkship. State clerkships, 60K-75K. Federal government, 55K-70K. State Prosecutor/Public Defender – 40K-45K. Public Interest – 30K-40K. No matter what school you go to, that is what those jobs pay.

TLS: What % of the 2008 class at UIUC found employment in the secondary market/midsize firm category?

20 to 30%.

Location/Region-Oriented Questions

TLS: What % of graduates last year at UIUC made it into the bigger Chicago law firms?

For the Class of 2008, it was about 40% going to Biglaw. About 80% of those were Chicago. Top half of the class keeps you in that game.

TLS: How far is U of I from Chicago? How do you think U of I's distance from the city affects job prospects?

We are about 125 miles away from Chicago (2 hours on I-57). Illinois places very well in Chicago, and our reputation is as broad as it is strong. Chicago is a huge legal market and law firms are always looking for the best talent. They believe they can find it here at Illinois. All of the major firms come to our OCI and hire students into their summer programs. Our students don't typically have the ability to work for these firms during the school year, but I don't think that is a bad thing. The depth of our offerings and opportunities is incredible and our students are able to focus on making the most of their three years in law school. If you look at where the lawyers in major Chicago firms went to school, you will see a lot of orange and blue. Illinois also places 35% of our students outside of Illinois, with DC and NYC being our next biggest markets.

TLS: Could you talk a little more about the percentage of students who take jobs in NYC after graduation? Are they usually students who graduate at the top of their class? Do NY law firms recruit heavily on campus, or do the students secure their employment through their own leg-work and networking?

NY law firms are often worried about people being able to "handle" NYC, so being from NYC can help a lot. It is usually 8-10% of our class that goes to NYC. They typically are going to large firms, but we have had several in recent years go into the Manhattan DA's office. Large, prestigious NYC law firms only hire from the top of any class. That is true for our students as well. But, if you are in the top part of our class you will have the opportunity to go anywhere you wish. Some of the firms come on campus and a number of others work through our career office to collect resumes and conduct interviews. We also participate in a number of job fairs on the East Coast.

TLS: How well does the school place in the South, including Florida?

Last year we had about 5% of the class go to the South. It is always easier to go there if you are from there, if that makes sense. It would be much tougher for someone who lived in Illinois their whole life, went to Illinois Law, and then decided to move to Florida.

TLS: Do any grads ever head out West? Do any Western firms do OCI at Illinois? How well does Illinois place in San Francisco or other Bay Area law firms?

A third of our students find their first job outside the state of Illinois. If you took California as a whole, rather than by city, we put more people there than we do in DC. Over the last 4 years, 10% of the class have been native Californians. They tend to want to head back after school and they do, usually. We have a very loyal and active alumni base in the Bay Area. However, Chicago is a great city to work and live in and it lures some native Californians away.

TLS: How would you say the school's connections are to firms/clerkships in New England?

Honestly, Boston is a tough market. We have alums in Boston, but I think firms in Boston like to pick people that went to school in Boston. NYC and DC are very different, for whatever reason.

TLS: How is Illinois perceived in the Texas job market?

We usually place 5 to 7% of the class to Texas every year. These are usually Texas natives, but not always. We have a larger concentration of alums in the Houston area, not as many in Dallas.

Public Interest

TLS: Can you talk a bit about UIUC's loan forgiveness/LRAP options? What is the threshold to qualify for these?

We are a public law school committed to producing attorneys who will serve after graduation. We do have a LRAP. To qualify, you need to have a job providing direct legal services with a non-profit or government agency. In the three years of the program, only one student applied who had qualifying employment and didn't receive funds. That applicant had only $10k in loans. Last year, the average award was $5,400 and ranged from $1,000 to $11,000.

More info here: http://www.law.illinois.edu/prospective ... s/lrap.asp

TLS: Does Illinois have someone in the Career Services offices that specifically advises students interested in government and public interest work?

We do put quite a few people into government or NGO positions. Jean Manning, an alum, is Senate Chief Counsel for Employment. Michael Strautmanis, President Obama's Chief Counsel when he was in the Senate, now working in Intergovernmental Affairs in the White House, is another alum. Both have been very helpful in connecting our students to DC. (We have plenty of Republicans, too, but these two people just came to mind.) I think most people work in other places before transitioning to the Hill. A number of people in our Career Planning department work with students interested in government work. GULC is over three times our size, so they obviously put more people into DC than we do. If you are interested in government or NGO work, your debt load should be something to think about.

TLS: Do you have a rough percentage of students who graduate and go into public interest law?

20% go into PI or Government positions.

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Transferring

TLS: How many transfer students did you accept this past year, and which schools did they come from?

We had 30 transfer in from DePaul, Kent, Loyola, SIU, SLU, Case, off the top of my head.

TLS: How does Illinois evaluate transfer applicants?

I look at the rank in the class and the quality of the school. Transfer admits are typically in the top quarter of their class. Obviously we care about character and fitness issues, recommendations, and writing ability. We also interview any candidate before they are admitted. I care very little about your UGPA or your LSAT score.

TLS: Can you describe the interview process for transfer applicants?

The first stage of review is used to determine if you are capable of doing the work at Illinois and could be a successful student here. If you make it through that, you will be invited to interview. (We do interviews here at the College and off-site as well as by phone.) The interviews are meant to determine your motivation for transferring, how well you would interview with the employers that come here to Illinois, and how well you would fit into our community. We also use it as a time to answer any questions you might have about the College.

TLS: If you do plan on transferring, does it make the most sense to go to the highest ranked school you get into? How much does where you go to law school factor into the transfer process?

The school you are coming from factors into the decision and schools will typically go deeper in a class of a school with the better reputation. That being said, schools might have a different criteria in judging the quality of the school than USNWR. They are probably going to like schools that are in their same region or one that they have had experience with in past years. If they are using USNWR as a guide, slight differences in rank will not matter.

TLS: How long does UIUC generally take to make decisions on transfer applicants?

We try to do them quickly, but we interview all candidates. I hope to make the notifications of who will be interviewed in the first week of July.

TLS: Is there any downside to transferring if you're not able to get in as a 1L?

There is a downside to just about everything, including transferring. It is hard to leave the friends that you have made and the comfort that comes from being at a place for a year. It is hard to learn about a new school all over again, and every school does things a little bit differently. I also think you have to ask tough questions of the school you want to transfer to. Are you eligible for law review, are you eligible for honors, what kind of restrictions on course selections will you have, how will you be treated at OCI, what is the past performance of transfer students, can you talk to a 3L who was a transfer? You need to be informed before jumping in. At Illinois, we do everything possible to assimilate transfers into their class, and I think we do a pretty good job. Our transfers perform at a very high level and have at graduation placement numbers that match (or sometimes exceed) that of our students who started as 1Ls. Most of the time, the other 2Ls just assume the transfer student was in another section the year before, but since we have about 25 transfers come in each year, they almost form their own section. They usually even have their own softball team as 2Ls. By 3L year, they are completely integrated into our student body.

TLS: How do transfer students at UIUC fare at 2L OCI?

They do fine. But, at any school, think of this example. If you are coming from school A in the top ten percent and you get on Firm B's schedule. If Firm B doesn't normally recruit at school A, they won't know what to make of your grades and the simple fact you transferred to the new school won't mean anything to them. They will want to see grades at the new school. If Firm B does recruit at school A and normally hires people in the top ten percent, then you will have a great chance, about the same you would have if you didn't transfer. The benefit in transferring comes later. Think about it, this makes sense.

Transferring Out

TLS: If one of the first-year students that ended up in the top 10% of the class came to you and said they wanted to transfer, what would you recommend and why? If the student had a relatively small scholarship, would you offer them an increase to stay?

I ask them why they want to transfer and go through the analysis. Sometimes, it is the right thing for people to do, and other times it is a mindless chase for a ranking that won't help the student in the end. If the student has done well and is someone we want to keep, I will offer to increase their scholarship if I have room in the budget. Last year, we had 4 students transfer out. 3 of them made the right decision. We try pretty hard to keep our students.

TLS: What some of the questions you ask students wanting to transfer?

Are you happy at your current school? Why do you want to transfer, what do you think it will get you? How does the school you will be transferring to consider transfers? Would you be eligible to compete for a position on a journal? Can you graduate with honors? How will you be treated in OCI? What is the past success of transfers in OCI?

TLS: How many students transfer out per year? What is their class rank? And where do they all end up?

Last year, we had 4 leave, and they went to GULC, NU, NYU and Boalt. The one that went to GULC did the early thing. I don't think anyone in her section really knew her. Boalt was from Cali and really missed it. NU had a deal where he only needed a 3.0 to get in. NYU's husband worked in NYC and she missed him.

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Just for Fun

TLS: Can you tell me more about the Law School Softball League?

It is slow pitch, co-rec, 12". This fall we had 21 teams, I think. I play on the faculty/staff team, and we lost in the semis to the eventual champions. It is a lot of fun and about half the school participates. You don't have to be good to play, although we do have some remarkably athletic students.

TLS: Are there any other "law-sports" other than softball?

Darts, basketball, soccer and hockey. Usually there are teams for the flag football and broomball tourneys as well.

TLS: For the law students that participated in the basketball/soccer intramurals, was this just a group of law students as a team playing with the undergrads? Or was it something else?

Soccer was a team of law students competing against other grad students. Basketball is a COL only league. You can sign up for other teams if you wish, but the ones that I referred to were COL only.

TLS: Does the law school purchase a block of tickets for football games, or do students get them through the university?

Students do it themselves in groups. Last year there was a block of about 80 students for football games.

TLS: How is the surrounding community? Is there a lot to do? Certain cultural quirks? Any local activities that people from outside the area might not have heard of?

I love the surrounding community, but then, I live here. I think that a college town is a great environment to learn to love the law. The College is small, so you get to know everyone. The town is big enough so there is always something to do on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, but there aren't so many distractions that you lose focus. Also, because of this, we aren't a commuter school. Students come to the College of Law and spend the day here and talk with their classmates and professors. The same goes for our professors. Even if they aren't teaching class that day, they are usually in their office and available to students. It takes them (no matter where they live in Champaign or Urbana) 10 minutes to get to the College, so they are here more. For things that people might not expect, I would say that there is more live music than people would think. Check out the website for The Canopy Club to see what some recent acts have been. Oh, and a favorite law student hangout, The Blind Pig, which was ranked like the 26th best place in the country to have a beer.

TLS: What is the political climate like at UIUC?

Pretty evenly split, really. The faculty is more liberal, but there are a fair number of conservative professors. What I enjoyed as a student was that for most of the faculty, you didn't know what their political leanings were unless you had a private conversation with them. In class, they argued both sides.

TLS: On the TLS description of UIUC, it says that the town has some hip bars and restaurants. Do you guys have any decent Indian, Thai, Mexican and sushi? How much of the typical Chicago food has made its way down there (pizza, hot dogs, etc.)?

Indian, yes. Thai, check. Mexican, a ton. Sushi... there are a few places I like. I am hesitant to say that because people won't believe it, but Yellow Fin is pretty good. Papa Dell's has great deep dish. Jupiter's has great thin crust.

TLS: Where is "downtown" Champaign? Neil street?

Neil and Main, around the train station. That is where all of the bars are. It is roughly a 4-block area.

TLS: What's the weather like in the winter?

We get all 4 seasons here in Illinois. There are 3 pretty rough months. One you will be hunkered down for finals, one you will be gone for, and the third, well, you just have to deal. I love the weather, personally. People that live where it is 78 degrees all the time lack character, in my humble opinion. Spring is wet, but you don't care because the sun is out. Summer is a real summer and the Fall is beautiful. Lots of trees changing colors and perfect tailgating weather.